Clematis plant named ‘EVIpo001’

ABSTRACT

A new  Clematis  cultivar which is well suited to propagation in glasshouses. With a tall growth habit, profuse, violet blue flowers, and continuous summer flowering. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for cultivation in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Botanical classification: Clematis l. Genus—Clematis. Species—viticella.

Variety denomination: ‘EVIpo001’.

Commercial classification: Summer Flowering Cultivar.

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of Clematiswhich originated from a chance pollination between the female seedparent an unnamed, non-patented plant and an unknown male pollen parentplant.

The new clematis may be distinguished from its female seed parent by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The seed parent has purple flowers. ‘EVIpo001’ has violet        blue flowers.    -   2. The seed parent has a white flower center. ‘EVIpo001’ has a        yellow center.

The seed resulting from the chance pollination was planted in acontrolled environment. The new variety is named ‘EVIpo001’.

The objective of the selection of this Clematis variety for commercialglasshouse and nursery culture was to create a new and distinct varietywith:

-   -   1. Profusion of light violet flowers;    -   2. Summer flowering;    -   3. Yellow flower center;    -   4. Vigorous growth habit.

These qualities required improvement in Clematis varieties that were incommercial cultivation and the objectives have been substantiallyachieved in the new variety, as evidenced by the unique combination ofcharacteristics that are present in ‘EVIpo001’ which distinguish it fromall other varieties of which we are aware.

The seeds from the aforementioned chance pollination were germinated andevaluations of the resulting seedling plants were conducted in acontrolled environment. As a result, ‘EVIpo001’ was selected by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in their Clematis development program inDomarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands,United Kingdom in April of 1997.

Asexual reproduction of ‘EVIpo001’ by cuttings was first done by RaymondJ. Evison and Mogens N. Olesen in Domarie Vineries Les Sauvagees, St.Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom in June of 1997.This initial and subsequent propagations have demonstrated that thecharacteristics of ‘EVIpo001’ are true to type and are transmitted fromone generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration show as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type. Specificallyillustrated in SHEET 1:

FIG. 1 Bloom, upper side;

FIG. 2 Bloom, lower side;

FIG. 3 Partially opened flower, flower bud closed, and flower bud at ¼opening;

FIG. 4 Mature leaves;

FIG. 5 Stem and juvenile foliage, showing attachment of leaves.

Specifically illustrated in SHEET 2:

‘EVIpo001’ in its entirety growing on a support structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of ‘EVIpo001’, as observed inits growth throughout the flowering period in glasshouses at DomarieVineries Les Sauvagees, St. Sampsons, Guernsey, Channel Islands, UnitedKingdom. Observed plants were cultivated for a period of 24 months in 2liter containers. Certain phenotypical characteristics of the varietymay vary under different environmental, cultural, agronomic, seasonal,and climatic conditions. Color references are made using The RoyalHorticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 1995.

For a comparison, the nearest existing Clematis variety is ‘Rhapsody’, anon-patented variety. Chart 1 details several physical characteristicsof ‘Evipo001’ and the comparison variety.

CHART 1 ‘EVIpo001’ ‘Rhapsody’ Flower 90 mm to 120 mm. 100 mm to 150 mm.diameter Typical 2.5 m to 3.0 m. 2.0 m to 2.5 m. growth in one seasonPeduncle Horizontal to Erect to aspect slightly horizontal. nodding.Tepal count Normally 4 to 6. Normally 6 to 8.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Summer. Generally flowers in June, July, August, and    September.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—30 to 40 mm in length. Bud diameter is 12 to 15 mm.        -   Bud form.—Long ovoid.        -   Bud color.—Green Group 138C at ¼ opening.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Length.—90 to 120 mm average length.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144B maturing to Red-Purple Group            61A.        -   Strength.—Between horizontal and slightly nodding.-   Receptacle: None.    -   -   Borne.—Borne on compound cymes.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Size.—90 to 120 mm in diameter.        -   Form.—Opens flat with tepals recurving.        -   Depth.—Little depth (5 to 10 mm) but anthers and stigma            protrude giving the flower a total depth of 15 to 20 mm.        -   Fragrance.—None to very light.        -   Lasting quality on plant.—7 to 12 days.        -   Lasting quality as a cut flower.—2 to 5 days.-   Tepals:    -   -   Tepal color.—Upon opening, upper and lower surfaces are            Violet Group 88D. After opening, upper and lower surfaces            are Violet Group 88D.        -   Variations.—The longitudinal region of the tepal            undersurface may show a slight white central bar, White            Group 155A, along its length. As the flower ages general            tonality fades slightly to Violet Group 88C.        -   Quantity.—Single. Average range is 4 to 6 tepals.        -   Shape.—Individual tepal shape is elliptical to ovate. Tepal            base shape is acute.        -   Cross section.—Normally straight.        -   Undulation of margin.—Entire.        -   Tepal apex.—Acute.        -   Recurvature of tip.—Tip recurves.        -   Persistence.—Drop off cleanly.        -   Arrangement.—Tepals are arranged regularly.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pollen.—Quantity: Below average. Color: Yellow Group 11B.        -   Anthers.—Size: Small, 3 to 5 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group            145C. Arrangement: Regular.        -   Filaments.—Color: White Group 155A.        -   Pistil count.—20 to 30.        -   Stigmas.—Protrude from anthers as flower ages.        -   Styles.—Yellow-Green Group 145C.

PLANT

-   Plant form: Climbing and spreading depending on host.-   Plant growth: Vigorous.-   Height: Seasons growth attains 2.5 to 3.0 meters.-   Spread: Typically 1 to 2 meters.-   Hardiness: Trials to date show the variety hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Young wood: Red-Purple Group 61A. Older wood: Light            Brown (actual RHS designation Greyed-Orange 165C).        -   Internodes.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: 100 to 150 mm.        -   Petioles.—Size: 60 to 80 mm. Color: Green Group 143A            maturing to Red-Purple Group 61A.        -   Bark.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.-   Plant foliage: Deciduous. Trifolate with three broad elliptical to    ovate leaflets. Can occasionally be simple.    -   -   Terminal leaflet size.—60 to 80 mm (l)×40 to 50 mm (w).        -   Abundance.—Above average.        -   Color.—Top: Green Group 137B. Bottom: Green Group 137B.-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Stipules.—Absent.        -   Petioles.—Size: 60 to 80 mm in length. Color: Green Group            143A maturing to Red-Purple Group 61A.        -   Petioloule.—Length: 10 to 40 mm. Color: Green Group 143A            maturing to Red-Purple Group 61A.        -   Leaf edge.—Terminal leaflet margin is entire.        -   Leaflet shape.—Base: Rounded. Apex: Acute.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Surface.—Upper side: Rough with a matte finish. Lower side:            Rough with a matte finish.        -   Thickness.—Thick.        -   Glossiness.—Matte Finish.-   Disease resistance: Subject to any disease that normally attacks the    species, however the variety is more tolerant to Botrytis and Wilt    than some Clematis.

1. We claim a new and distinct variety of clematis plant, substantiallyas herein shown and described, due to its abundant violet blue flowerswith good keepability, attractive long lasting foliage and compactgrowth, year round flowering under glasshouse conditions, suitabilityfor production from softwood cuttings in pots, durable flowers andfoliage which make the variety suitable for distribution in the floralindustry.